Invalid&#39;s couch.



Ho.' 836,175. v PATENTED NOV. 20, 1906.

Y J. W. BESS.

INVALIDS COUCH.

APPLICATION FILED 211.14. 1906.

JQJI n W lT/VESSES:

A TTOR/VE VS.

JOHN W. BESS, OF BRILLIANT, OHIO. 'INVAIIJDS coucn.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 20, 1906.

Application filed February 14, 1906- serial No. 301.064.

. To all whom ifnulq concern:

- Be it known that I, JOHN W. BESS, a citizen of the United States, residing at-Brilliant, in the county of Jefferson and State of Ohio, have invented a new and useful Invalids Couch. of which the following is a specificatlon.

This invention relates to invalids couches.

'The object of the invention is to provide a couch designed b its peculiar construction to facilitate the a ministration of utero-vagi nal douches or enemas, to minimize the labor and inconvenience of the procedure, and to maximize the beneficial results arising therefrom.

With the above and other objects in view, as will appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the novel construction and combination of parts of an invalids couch, as will be hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and in which like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts, Figure 1 is a view in perspective of a couch constructed in accordance with the present invention. Fig. 12 is a perspective detail view of one of the side rails of the couch. Fig. 3 is a sectional detail view of a portion of the bottom of the couch. Fig. 4 is a detail view of a brace used to reinforce the couch-bottom.

The couch embodies in its construction a head-post 1, a foot-post 2, a pair of side rails 3, a bottom 4, and a brace 5.

The head and foot posts are by preference made of a single length of metallic tubing bent to the appropriate-shape, and each has combined with it two end rails 6, 7, S, and 9.

The end rails 6 and 8 are disposed on different planes, the first being the higher in order to cause the bottom to incline upward from the foot-post to the head-post, whereby to retain the patient in the most advantageous position for receiving treatment.

In order to dispense with the employment of a pillow for supporting the patients head, each side rail is provided at that end that will be combined with the head-post with an upward-inclined branch or extension 10, which will be pitched at such angles to the side rail as to give the head of the couch the proper incline to subserve the function of a pillow. The other portion of the bottom at theend of the side rail is provided with a downward-inclined branch or extension 11, and the two extensions 10 and 11, as well as the terminals of the side rails, are provided with appropriately-shaped tongues 12- to engage sockets 13, provided in the opposed faces of the head and foot posts. In addition to subserving the functions stated the branches 10 and 11 operate positively to brace the head and foot posts against rocking movement.

In order to brace the intermediate portion of the bottom, the downward-bowed brace 5 is employed, as shown in Fig. 5, the terminals of which are formed with pintles 14 to engage orifices 15 in the side rails,one' of which is shown in Fig. 2.

The bottom 4 is composed, preferably, of heavy rubber and is provided at a point intermediate of its ends with a depression or well 16, adapted to catch and retain the liquid or detergent, a closure '17 in the form of a stopper being provided to seal the well when desired.

The side and end edges of the bottom are provided with spaced orifices to beengaged by bolts 18, that have a threaded connection with the side and end rails, the corners of the bot-tom being cut away at 19 to fit around the head and foot posts. In order that the bolts shall not present obstructions, and also to accentuate their clamping ualities, they are disposed on the outer si es of the respective rails with which they are combined, as clearly shown in Fig. 1.

Combined with the horizontal member of thefoot-post and with one of the end railsin this instance the rail 9-are eyes 20, that are adapted to be engaged by a standard or support 21, formed at its upper end into a gooseneck 22, terminating in a hook 23 to support the bag or other receptacle containing the liquid or detergent employed.

In administering douches or enemas the patient will assume a horizontal position upon the bottom, and by maintaining a recumbent position the benefit of the treatment will be largely enhanced, while the labor of the procedure will be reduced to a min imum. The liquid or detergent employed will be caught and retained by the well, from which it may be removed by a suitable rece ptacle provided for the purpose.

Owing to the fact that the bottom is of rubber, it will be thoroughly cleanly and will f thus not Become offensive or unsanitary from long-continued use.

When the couch is not employed, its parts may be readily separated and stored away,

as they will occupy but small space.

I claim- I 1. An invalids ,couch comprising a head 7 and a foot post, each having combined with ittwo end rails, side rails combined with the "head and foot posts and provided with terminalopposi-tely-inclined extensions, and a bottom detachably combined with the upper pair of end rails and with the side rails.

2. An invalids couch comprising. a head and a foot post, each having combined with it two end rails, side rails combined with the head and foot posts and provided with ter- 1 minal oppositely-inclined extensions, a bottom detaehably combined with the upper pair of end rails and with the side rails and provided with-a well, and means for closing the same.

and a foot post, a pair of end rails carried by each of the post-s, the upper "one of each of which is provided with threaded orifices, side rails combined with the head and foot posts and each is provided'atits upper end with an- JOHN W. BESSv Witnesses:

LOUISE ONE AL, ("AR-L H. SMrrH.

3. An invalids couch comprising a head 

